The revolving door that has become the Aeros bullpen spun some more over the past week as the Aeros added right-hander T.J. Burton to the mix from Class-A Kinston.

Burton joins recent newcomers in left-hander Rich Rundles from Extended Spring Training and right-hander Randy Newsom from Kinston - both, as luck would have it, are sidearmers.

“You have a bunch of guys out there now who are bullpen guys, and have been,” Aeros manager Tim Bogar said. “I like the way our bullpen sets up now. I like having Newsom and Rundles like that and (Reid) Santos closing the game.”

Bogar was referring to the Aeros starting the season with a handful of pitchers in the bullpen who were really starters like Joe Ness (who’s now in the starting rotation) and Jake Dittler (since promoted to Triple-A Buffalo).

On Monday, right-hander Nick Pesco joined the group from Triple-A Buffalo, giving Bogar even more options late in the game.

Newsom earned his first save Tuesday night in the Aeros 5-3 win - a sight Aeros fans ought to get used to, especially with Santos struggling as of late.

I am really starting to like the evolving Aeros bullpen. Instead of being chuck full of starters-turned-relievers, it has taken on a better shape with more defined roles that fit the individual players better.

The addition of side-arming right-hander Randy Newsom from high Class-A Kinston has already shown to be a plus in the few days he’s been with the team - as he pitched well again in tonight’s 13-6 win over visiting Bowie. In 11 games with the K-Tribe, the Cincinnati native was 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA in 11 appearances.

Lefty Rich Rundles, who looks like a sidearmer but who really throws from three quarters, has also been a plus since arriving from extended spring training 10 days ago. In four appearances, he already has a save and a win to go along with a tidy 2.08 ERA. Additionally, he has not allowed a hit in his last three outings.

With the way this Aeros lineup can hit (they produced 13 runs on 17 hits tonight), they ought to feel like they can be any game now that they have a bullpen that can hold an opponent at bay like the Aeros bullpen has done the last couple of games.

On anothe note, two consecutive days off appears to boasted the confidence of struggling Aeros outfielder Trevor Crowe. In Tuesday’s win, he made a spectacular diving catch in center field, hit a lead-off home run in his first at bat and went 3-for-5 on the night. While it’s only one game, it could be the beginning of him turning around his dismal start.

With the Aeros off to a 2-0 start, the most surprising aspect of the 2007 team has been it’s bullpen. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect after the starting five (a solid group anchored by the likes of Chuck Lofgren, J.D. Martin and Scott Lewis) departed on any given game night early in the season.

Not only are there a handful of newcomers in the bullpen mix, but several pitchers are starters being converted to relievers such as Jake Dittler and Jensen Lewis. And the team’s closer, Bubbie Buzachero, while a veteran, brings baggage from last season (we’ll get back to this soon).

That being said, even though it’s only been two games, I’ve been pleasently surprised by the consistency of the team’s relievers so far. In Monday’s season-opening win over the Altoona Curve, the relief corps combined for four innings of no-hit ball. Then they did it again against the rival Curve in Tuesday’s victory, squashing any thought of a comeback attempt after the host scored eight runs in the third inning.

“I don’t think we’ve had a hiccup yet,” Aeros second-year manager Tim Bogar said after his squad cruised to a 9-0 win Tuesday night. “It’s pretty impressive in this type of weather, as well as with all the other circumstances (snow postponing the first four games of the season) surrounding us.”

One look at the Aeros roster last week before the season began and it appeared the bullpen could be the team’s weak link early on. Instead, it’s been just as strong as the offense (which has produced 15 runs in two games), the defense and the starting pitchers (Lofgren and Martin have allowed just one run between them).